Make sure you are willing to go the full distance in terms of the time needed to train as a Clinical Psychologist – it’s typically at least six years academic study, and invariably this period is interspersed with work in a relevant field.

Do be as confident as you can that you’re happy being a “listener” and “observer”, as you will spend significant amounts of time in your work life as a Clinical Psychologist being in this role, as well as being in the “do-er” role and being in the limelight.

To have a good ‘fit’ with this career you’ll need to be happy working with people – as individuals on a one to one basis, with groups (e.g. families), and as part of a team in the workplace.

You need to have a good attention to detail as the job needs good observation skills, record keeping, and organisation skills.

Be prepared for learning and self-development to be on-going for the whole of your career because, as a Clinical Psychologist, you’ll be learning and using techniques and intervention approaches that are being constantly developed, and be working in accordance with policies and laws that are also constantly evolving.

The last piece of advice I’d give to someone considering this job is to be as sure as you can that you feel comfortable and even excited at the prospect of your career revolving around people and groups with all the varied, diverse, and unpredictable rewards and challenges that this brings!

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalists interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results, and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Doctor / GP

Education Most of these occupations require post-graduate qualifications. For example, they may require a masters degree, and some require a Ph.D., or M.D.

Related Experience Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialised medical training to be able to do their job.

Job Training Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Job Zone Examples These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organisational skills are required. Examples include librarians, lawyers, aerospace engineers, wildlife biologists, school psychologists, surgeons, treasurers, and most scientists.

Number Employed:

14,000

Examines, treats and advises sick people in a local surgery or hospital.

The Work

Doctors apply medical knowledge and skill to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases, disorders and injuries. They talk to patients to find out what symptoms they have, for example, whereabouts they feel pain, and look at notes which tell them which illnesses the patient has had before.

They try to find out as much as possible about the patient by taking their blood pressure, listening to their heart and taking many other different measurements to try and work out what is wrong with them. A doctor is really like a detective - piecing together lots of evidence in order to make a diagnosis.

When they know what is wrong with the patient, they decide on the best way to treat them. This may involve giving medicine or operating. Doctors are supported by a team of health care workers, such as nurses.

The specific work activities of a doctor depend on whether they have chosen to be a general practitioner (GP), surgeon or physician.

General Practioner

GPs are responsible for the diagnoses and treatment of a wide range of illnesses. They work in the primary care sector and attend to patients either in their surgery or in the patient's home. They examine and talk to their patients, give advice on health issues and, when necessary, refer their patients for tests.

They prescribe medicines, issue certificates an keep case notes documenting the long term health history of a patient. They also educate their patients on healthy living, proper diets and preventative measures to guard against infection.

GPs are usually on an on-call rota, when they may have to go and visit a patient at their home at any time during the day or night. In rural areas, this may involve a lot of driving. GP cooperatives are initiatives to provide out-of-hours cover by different methods in different areas of the country. Cooperatives are managed by members for members in an attempt to reduce the onerous on-call commitment of GPs.

Physicians and Surgeons

Physicians and surgeons diagnose and treat injuries or illnesses. Physicians examine patients; take medical histories; prescribe medications; and order, perform, and interpret diagnostic tests. They counsel patients on diet, hygiene, and preventive healthcare. Surgeons operate on patients to treat injuries, such as broken bones; diseases, such as cancerous tumors; and deformities, such as cleft palates.

Many doctors work long and irregular hours and spend time on-call, in case of emergencies. They can also specialise in particular areas such as Pathology, Paediatrics and Cardiology. General Practitioner, Surgeon and Consultants are just some of the areas that a doctor can specialise into.

Personal Qualities

You will deal with people from all walks of life, so you need to be able to communicate effectively with them, in a language they can understand. You will also need the ability to make rational and objective decisions, often while under a lot of pressure.

You may well find yourself in situations that demand great emotional detachment and the ability to cope with distressing situations is vital. Practical skills are also important. A steady hand is essential for delicate operations and examination.

A medical career involves a long, antisocial period of academic and clinical training, which requires considerable physical and mental stamina. Work is very demanding both physically and mentally.

Further Information

A detailed description of this occupation can be found on a number of online databases. Follow the link(s) below to access this information:

Career Guidance

Search for Related Courses from Qualifax - the National Learners Database

CAO Course suggestions

If you are interested in this occupation, then the following CAO / HETAC courses may also be of interest. Note that these course suggestions are not intended to indicate that they lead directly to this occupation, only that they are related in some way and may be worth exploring.